Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

Latin, or any other language, which my memory had generally recalled,
or to verify a quotation;—the help excepted which I received, in the
chronological department, from my own nephew. I have laboured alone
for nearly twenty-five years previously to the work being sent to the
press; and fifteen years have been employed in bringing it through the
press to the public: and thus about forty years of my life have been
consumed." The following observations which he made in a letter to a
young friend, should be more publicly known: "Mr. Wesley's Notes on
the New Testament are excellent and useful; and, were I not fully
convinced in the fear of God of what I am about to say, I would not say
it. I then say, Carefully read over my comment on the Scriptures. I wrote
every page of it in reference to the ministers of the word of God, and
especially those among the Methodists; and I know of no work, be it what
it may, in which the doctrines of the Methodists are so clearly stated,
illustrated, and proved." In this I heartily concur.
At an early age Dr. Clarke took for his motto: "Through desire a man
having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom;"
and I remember asking him, some years ago, if he would advise me to
apply myself to the study of geology and mineralogy, when he promptly
replied, "Yes; a Methodist preacher should know every thing." He not
only possessed one of the most select and valuable libraries in the
kingdom, but he made such use of his opportunities as but few persons
have done. The stores of useful knowledge which he amassed were
prodigious. The late Rev. Robert Hall pronounced him to be "an ocean of
learning;" while another eminent Baptist minister says he was
"unquestionably the most universal scholar of his age." He never sought,
but rather shunned, literary honours; thinking himself to be undeserving
of them: but learned and literary societies thought otherwise. He received,
as we have seen, his diplomas of A.M. and LL. D. from the University
and King's College, Aberdeen; and was successively elected president of
the Liverpool and Manchester Philological Society,—member of the
Oriental Sub-Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society,—subcommissioner
of Public Records,—librarian of the Surrey
Institution,—fellow of the Antiquarian Society,—member of the Royal